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Monday, September 30, 2013

This past Saturday, I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of Chip and Pepper's newest denim line, exclusively sold at Belk. For those of you who don't know, Chip and Pepper are twin brothers who moved from Canada down to California to create a vintage denim line, which made its debut back in 2003. It has been a hugely successful brand in California and New York, and one of the only denim brands to stand the true test of time.

I remember when I first discovered Chip and Pepper Premium denim, back in high school. I saved four of my paychecks from the little boutique job I held to invest in a pair (my first pair of designer jeans) of their denim, which were around $200 at a local Memphis boutique.

I still own and wear these jeans to this day!

I will say one thing- Chip and Pepper sure know how to throw a party, complete with a plethora of denim, drinks, appetizers, models, and even a DJ to help keep the party going! One of the most admirable things about these two designers is their spirit and energy. They are truly passionate about their product, and their customers. Both Chip and Pepper were out on the sales floor, selling denim, advising on fits and styles, and running back and forth to grab a variety of sizes for customers in the fitting rooms.

"Belk is the perfect partnership for us...they are not too big and not too small. We were looking for someone with a sense of loyalty, and it is a very good working partnership- we didn't want a bag over our head....

This did not happen over night, this is like an eighteen month/ two year deal. They [Belk] have this cool vibe going on, kind of English- almost like a Harrods or a Selfridges. We [Chip and Pepper] are really big out in LA and New York, but other than that nobody really knew about us.

That is why Belk is so good for us to help spread the brand. We were frustrated designers, and that is why we needed the right strategic partner for us. We sold to the boutiques, and selling to the boutiques was awesome. But we wanted someone that really believed in the brand. And Belk believes in the brand.

I mean- well, look at it [looks out around show room floor].

...No other premium brand designers do what we do. You can't go see Mr. Seven- there is no 'Seven,' There is no 'Mr. Citizens of Humanity', there is no 'Mr. True Religion', but there is a Chip and Pepper- you can touch us. We are not just making jeans for sticks, we are making jeans for real people. This is a $200 jean that you are getting for $68! And the great news is
that next year we will be coming out with another denim line, that is
all American made."

The jeans are binded and french seamed, in the same way that their
premium Chip and Pepper line is created, but for a fraction of the cost. One of my favorite things about their jeans, apart from the construction and washes, is their recovery. So many times I buy jeans with stretch for comfort and fit, only to realize after a day of sitting in them they have become loose and somewhat baggy. Not these jeans- Chip and Pepper denim has great recovery!

I am not sure how many of you have seen this sweater in person, but let me assure you- if you have not, it is even MORE FABULOUS when you see it in person versus viewing it online. The lettering of the "Tres Chic" is the same texture as that of a varsity letter man jacket. The sweater has a touch of angora-ness to it as well! So comfy, and tres chic!

And a BIG thanks to all the sweet instagrammers who helped me find out where these fab shoes were from!

Some people's essentials consist of neutral closet staples. My closet essentials currently consist of a camo utility jacket, a leopard clutch, and a gold tassel necklace. I had seen a look very similar to this on a fellow blogger's blog (hey, Emily!). Once I realized I had all of the ingredients to pull this look together, I was eager for the temperatures to lower so I could give it a whirl.

The weather here in Nashville has been AMAZING! Typically we don't get too much of an autumn here in the south- it goes from hot and humid to freezing cold in a matter of days. This past weekend I actually had to put on a jacket to go to dinner with hubs?!?!?

This faux-leather pencil skirt is getting a lot of mileage lately! I love the sophisticated and classic shape of the pencil skirt, but feel that the faux leather gives it a more edgy appeal. In my personal opinion, leather is not off limits for the office.

I was laughing with Ryan while we were shooting these photos- this is my absolute favorite t-shirt of all time. I found it at Kohl's at their after Christmas sale for $4.00. Seriously. Of course I grabbed it, and six years later, it still is my favorite! The fabric is so soft and literally pairs with everything.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Well, the time has finally come my lovelies! The official launch of 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target kicked off with a bang as of this morning. After checking my Twitter and Instagram feed, I soon realized that many people all over the US had been standing in line for hours for the store's doors to open. Most of the line sold out online within minutes!

Lucky for me, living in a small suburb outside of Nashville, there was zero hype regarding the line at our local Target. I even scored the first parking spot! I already knew exactly which pieces I wanted to get before heading out. I think this was my only saving grace for not scooping up every single handbag! Obviously I was going to grab some bags, but once I saw this sweatshirt on Jessica Alba, I added that to my list of must haves.

For the most part, I think the handbags are beyond phenomenal. You definitely know they are a 3.1 Phillip Lim bag when you see them. They are so very similar to the oh-so-popular Pashli, which can cost you upwards of $800. I am so glad I held out on buying the Pashli.

Seriously, $800 or $45...total no brainer.

Regarding the clothing, I wasn't completely in love, with the exception of the sweatshirt.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

This week's blogger spotlight is such a huge girl crush of mine. Meet Tiffany Olson, from the amazing fashion and style blog, Tiffany Style. Located in Macon, Georiga, Tiffany has become one of my absolute favorite style bloggers. I admire not only her ability to put a fabulous outfit together, but also her business savvy sense of blogging.

Did you know that she is even the Creative Director behind Sweet Lemon Magazine? Brains AND beauty- this gal has it all! Keep reading to find out more about Miss Tiffany, and be sure to add her blog to your daily reads!____________________________________________________________________________________

WUYW: Of all of your posts, which outfit or feature has been your absolute favorite thus far?

This February I did an outfit post in a new Tibi dress that I was obsessed with, and it’s still one of my favorites. I had just returned from a blizzard in New York (literally), and it happened to be a randomly warm day in Georgia. So even though it was a spring dress in February, I just could. not. wait. It ended up being one of my most popular posts too because I think everyone else was ready for warmer temperatures as well!

WUYW: Why would you consider this your best post to date?

The Tibi dress post ended up getting me selected for a contest with New York Magazine’s fashion site, The Cut, which was a huge honor. No other posts I’ve done can boast that so this one still reigns supreme!

WUYW: How/why/when did you decide to start a fashion blog?

I didn’t really mean to start a fashion blog, I just started a blog that I intended to use as a place to gather up all of the things I love. Back story: Somewhere in mid 2009 I realized that my day job in Commercial Real Estate was boring me to tears, and I was much more interested in planning my wedding, shopping online and talking about fashion in a way that no one else in my world was familiar with. I think I was probably reading a lot of wedding blogs at the time to be honest. So I started the blog as Tiffany Talk on August 20, 2009, and my tagline was “fashion, fun, ramblings.” I ended up mostly venting about wedding planning for the first 8 months or so, and I’m fairly certain no one knew I even had a blog.

After the wedding was over in April of 2010 though, I naturally started shifting my focus back toward fashion. If you can even imagine this far back, there was no instagram or pinterest, and the fashion industry was really just starting to become immersed in twitter. There was no Atlantic Pacific, there was no Man Repeller, there was no Wendy’s Lookbook… There were very few fashion blogger tutorial resources. I had absolutely no direction for what I was doing, other than just blindly posting the things I was interested in. In fact, I don’t think the term “fashion blogger” was really even out there in a mainstream way yet, at least not in Georgia. So the point is, I was just making it up as I went, which is still pretty much what I do.

WUYW: What was your biggest hesitation regarding starting a blog, and how did you overcome that hesitation?

I didn’t really have any hesitations at all then, since I had no idea what I was getting myself into! I’m sure starting a fashion blog now is an entirely different ballgame.

WUYW: What would be your biggest piece of advice for others who are just starting a blog?

I think the biggest piece of advice that we all hear over and over is “be yourself.” “Stay true to who you are. Find your niche. Find your own blogging voice.” Those are the basics that I always joke about as being the only thing you learn about at blogging conferences.

My personal advice would be to just get going! You’ll learn very quickly what works for you and what doesn’t. Trial and error is the best career coach you can have. For instance, I used to try to cover every random fashion event or show that struck my fancy. People can go to style.com if they want to see the generic photos. Give your readers something they can’t find anywhere else, like information about the fabulous sweater that you got at J. Crew outlet that is $100 less than the online price.

Tell your shopping/beauty/life secrets. Readers will come back for the good scoop! I once heard someone say “don’t post about something unless you are absolutely, 100% obsessed with it. If you don’t really care about it, your readers probably won’t either. Don’t post just to post.” I’ve taken this advice to heart, which is why I don’t necessarily post every day. (Although, sticking to some sort of schedule is a good idea. Stay consistent.)

I rarely schedule posts way in advance, because I can usually barely wait 24 hours to hit “publish.” If you only share the things that you are truly passionate about, (even if it’s just “I am dying over these Zara shoes,”) chances are you will build a readership that has a similar interest. Last note: using images on your site that you took yourself always gives you brownie points and always play nicely with other bloggers.

WUYW: What do you do for a living?

I do a little of it all. I run Tiffany Style Blog. I am the Creative Director at Sweet Lemon Magazine. I do some freelance writing and blogging consulting. I write a fashion column for a local magazine. I work in fab’rik a couple of days a week as a stylist to get away from the computer and see clothes on people in real life. I’m not exactly sure what my career end goal is, but it involves Paris Fashion Week and a closet allowance. (Might as well dream big!)

WUYW: How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as classic, with a twist. I’m always headed in a classic direction, but then I like to throw something in that is a little different. I also like a lot of black and white, and a lot of chic, minimalistic pieces.

WUYW: If you could only save one item from your closet (heaven forbid), what item would it be?

If I could only save one item from my closet it would probably be the vintage Moschino sheer cape dress I purchased in Monaco last year. It has a dramatic quality that I love, and it reminds me of the fabulous trip we took! I’ve only worn it once, but I just love seeing it in my closet every day when I’m getting ready. It’s pretty fabulous.

WUYW: Who or what is currently influencing your style the most?

Street style is a big influencer for me. I like to browse Pose to see the outfits that are being worn in real life! I also love to browse general street style photos from pinterest or street style blogs. Fashion week also influences me a great deal. The runways, the people at fashion week, the designers’ inspiration for their new collections, the general buzz for a new season… the entire process is a huge source of style influence for me every February and September.

WUYW: If you could trade closets with anyone, who would it be with?

If I could trade closets with anyone I would probably choose Blair from Atlantic Pacific. Even her pieces from Zara and H&M are so very carefully chosen. Her whole closet is very well curated. I’d also take: Vogue’s accessories closet, Miroslava Duma’s closet, and Elena Perminova’s closet and ability to wear anything without looking ridiculous.

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About Me

About the Author: I created Wake Up Your Wardrobe as a way to showcase my personal sense of style and love of all things fashion. I truly appreciate you stopping by, and hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy writing it! -xo, Morgan